News from around the South Bay area of Los Angeles by the staff of the Daily Breeze

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Politico is out with a speculative list of potential appointees in an Obama Administration, and South Bay Rep. Jane Harman is mentioned for two spots: CIA director and Director of National Intelligence.

This is, obviously, premature, but it is interesting to see that Harman’s name is “being widely discussed in Democratic circles,” per Politico.

Harman was the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee until 2006, when she was denied the chairmanship by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, presumably for being too much of a hawk.

Harman was among the “Gang of 8″ — Congressional leaders who were briefed on some of the Bush Administration’s most controversial tactics in the war on terror, including waterboarding and warrantless wiretapping. Though Harman proposed at one point a system of “torture warrants,” and initially defended the NSA eavesdropping program, since 2006 she has become more and more critical of the Bush Administration.

Lately she has clashed with the current DNI, Mike McConnell, over allegations that he has politicized intelligence. She endorsed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, and probably would be a likelier candidate for the Executive Branch were Clinton the nominee.

Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but a Harman appointment would create a vacancy in the South Bay’s 36th Congressional District, which is strongly Democratic. Who would be interested in that seat?

Here’s just a small listing of the many things going on out there today:

A naked man hanging out in San Pedro might be a normal Saturday night sight in some parts of town, but this time, it’s officially endorsed: The city tomorrow will unveil a 5-foot tall bronze sculpture of a nude “Multicultural Man,” a gift from its Italian sister city.

Visits from a Republican party official as well as the Secret Service helped convince that Redondo Beach woman to take down a bloody effigy of Sen. Barack Obama she had strung up outside her home.

Bernard Parks and Mark Ridley-Thomas face off again Tuesday for a seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, in a race where each candidate is trying to prove himself the “real” Democrat.

Two left-handed quarterbacks meet up tonight when North Torrance High takes on El Segundo High.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour this weekend, or you’ll be early to church or brunch or whatever you like to do Sunday mornings.

If you’re still looking for something to do for Halloween, why don’t you peruse our database of ghoulish South Bay activities?

As if the privilege of participating in a democratic government wasn’t reward enough, some of your favorite sweets dealers are giving folks incentives to vote next week.

Show off your “I Voted” sticker at a Krispy Kreme shop Tuesday and you’ll get a free star-shaped doughnut — with red, white and blue sprinkles! The South Bay’s doughnut hole is at 1199 W. Artesia Blvd. in Gardena.

Ben & Jerry’s shops will hand out a free ice cream scoop to customers Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. The South Bay’s cremery is at 350 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Manhattan Beach. And to cash in on that sweet deal, you don’t even have to vote. Just show up! But if you’re out getting ice cream anyway, why not stop by the polls while you’re at it?

El Camino College’s Chikezie, also of American Idol fame, will be back performing Sunday with the college’s Chorale. A story will be up later today. Get your tickets now at 310-329-5345 or 800-832-ARTS.

Redondo Beach resident Lisa Castaneda strung up an effigy of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama from her balcony to complement a bunch of other Halloween decorations Wednesday. Hanging by a neck tie, the dummy was covered in blood and had a giant knife through his neck.

Most of classy Lisa’s neighbors weren’t pleased, and apparently neither were John McCain’s people, who asked her to take the doll down last night. Check out the grisly pictures here.

Four former Torrance city employees have been charged with conspiracy and felony grand theft after allegedly embezzling more than $50,000 from the city.

A Lawndale man on trial for animal cruelty said the 10 decapitated animals found around his yard were sacrifices he made while practicing his religion, Santeria.

The Torrance gentleman who allegedly beat a gay man with a Yes on Prop. 8 sign has pleaded not guilty.

Hermosa Beach city leaders have approved elements of preliminary design
plans for its long-awaited, controversial overhaul to Pier Avenue.

Banning High takes on San Pedro tonight. Read all about the teams over at our Pure Preps blog.

I talked to Assemblyman Ted Lieu at the Torrance Chamber of Commerce luncheon today, and he says that despite the veto of his bill, AB 1830, mortgage reform is not dead yet in California.

On Nov. 5, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will call for a special session of the Legislature to deal with the budget shortfall. Lieu said that the mortgage crisis would also be on the agenda, and that Speaker Karen Bass had named him the Assembly’s point-person on the issue.

Lieu said he had already been in contact with the governor’s office to try to work out a compromise. Lieu worked all year in the Legislature on AB 1830, which would have tightened up regulations on subprime loans, only to have the governor veto it. Lieu said the discussions would include some type of regulatory reform, plus some foreclosure relief. More TK.

I also talked to Rep. Jane Harman, who gave her annual State of the Region address at the luncheon. Harman is phone-banking against Prop. 4 — the parental notification measure — and doing her best to help out two Democrats in northern California: Rep. Jerry McNerney and Charlie Brown.

In her address, she mentioned the importance of electing centrists in order to get things done, so I asked her about Schwarzenegger’s Prop. 11, which would turn over legislative redistricting to an independent panel. Harman said she had not studied the measure enough to have an opinion on it, but suggested there may be some flaws with the way the panel is set up. The Democratic Party is strongly against Prop. 11 — which it sees as a power grab — though some more moderate Democrats — like Treasurer Bill Lockyer — are for it.

Gardena City Council established a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, approved changes to the Rent Mediation Board’s bylaws, and authorized an entertainment permit for a karaoke restaurant on Tuesday.The council voted 4-0 to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. A 2006 moratorium on the businesses expires next month.An entertainment permit to allow karaoke music at Hanabi restaurant, formerly Koreana BBQ, was approved 4-0 on Tuesday. The restaurant, at 1435 W. Redondo Beach Boulevard, has recently been renovated with a sushi bar and individual rooms for private karaoke parties. It will open in November.The council also amended the bylaws of the city’s Rent Mediation Board, which arbitrates disputes between renters and landlords. The new rules limit mediation service to rent increases greater than five percent in one year, require landlords to submit reasons for rent increases prior to a mediation hearing, provide that the other side prevails if a party does not appear for a mediation hearing, and conforms rent increase notification periods to current state law.

A sad sign of the times: A Torrance man will be arraigned in court today on a felony charge of hate crime assault after he allegedly beat a gay man with a political placard advocating Prop. 8, a state ballot measure that would ban gay marriage.

Also, a neighborhood surrounding a Catholic church in Wilmington is crying foul after their own Yes on Prop. 8 signs keep going missing.

Maybe they should follow the lead of a Palos Verdes Estates man who made a 100-pound sign supporting Barack Obama in hopes it’d be too intimidating for the hoodlums he caught on video stealing his more subtle political signs.

Workers drained the pond in Torrance’s giant Wilson Park for the first time in 20 years Tuesday, capturing and relocating more than 40 turtles, 200 fish and two ducks.

Redondo Beach police officers working a narcotics case Tuesday in Montebello arrested a fugitive wanted for killing two people in Denver about three years ago.

Two Torrance neighbors have teamed up to sell scary Halloween scenes online. The holiday is still a few days out, but get some scares at our gallery of the company’s wares. And then, why don’t you use our database to find fun Halloween stuff to do with the kids?

Ok, so I paid $2.95 today at Arco. (Hey station near my home: $3.29 is still too high!) Sandy Mazza reports on how gas prices have dipped to their lowest mark in eight months. Costco is selling the stuff for $2.74.

A court has ruled against a local tattoo artist who wants to open a shop in Hermosa Beach. Andrea Woodhouse reports that “John Anderson has no first amendment right to ink in Hermosa Beach.”

You’ve probably figured out who you want for president, but then you
turn to that page in the ballot for water board. The Daily Breeze
chimes in today with its recommendations.

“Speed” and “Matrix” actor Keanu Reeves is set to testify in a trial in Los Angeles today. A celebrity photographer
sued Reeves, charging the actor’s Porche struck him in
the knee and caused him a serious hand injury. Reeves says the paparazzi fell down on his own. The whole deal occurred March 19, 2007 on Avenida Tranquila in Rancho Palos Verdes.